Rancho Lands Biggest Fish Of All

In what can certainly be viewed as the most significant retail event to occur in the city since the opening of Victoria Gardens, the Rancho Cucamonga Redevelopment Agency and Forest City Development have announced that Bass Pro Shops, America's premier destination outdoor retailer, will locate its first southern California store at the Victoria Gardens Lifestyle Center in Rancho Cucamonga.  The Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World store is scheduled to be under construction within the next six months, and open for business in 2007.

"This is an exciting moment in the ongoing development of Victoria Gardens and Rancho Cucamonga," commented Mayor Bill Alexander.  "The ability to attract a prestigious national retailer like Bass Pro Shops further validates the City's appeal as a premier business location."

For nearly a year, City officials, the developers of Victoria Gardens (Forest City), and Bass Pro Shops representatives have been working toward an agreement to bring one of the most sought after retailers in the country to Rancho Cucamonga.  During its August 17^th Redevelopment Agency Board meeting, the Agency Board unanimously approved the agreement signaling the beginning of a project that could bring the City over a million dollars a year in sales tax revenue, and provide up to 300 jobs for local residents.

Bass Pro Shops unique, award-winning outdoor stores are known for combining retail with entertainment, conservation, and outdoor education.  The company's retail stores are among the largest tourist attractions within the states that they are located, with several stores being their state's top tourist attraction.  Bass Pro Shops 27 destination stores in 17 states and Canada currently attract 75 million visitors annually from all over the United States, as well as many foreign countries.  The Rancho Cucamonga store will be no exception, and will compliment the rest of the highly successful Victoria Gardens Lifestyle Center by drawing on an even larger regional, super-regional, and out-of-state consumer market.

"The addition of a Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World store will bring an added element of quality retail to Victoria Gardens; particularly for those individuals who are interested in outdoor recreation activities," said Mike Wethington, Victoria Gardens General Manager.

Besides the large number of Inland Empire residents who are anticipated to shop at the new Rancho Cucamonga Bass Pro Shops store, it will also draw patrons from throughout southern California, and beyond.  In part, because of the store's advantageous location at the I-15 and I-210 freeways, which is in proximity to many recreation areas such as the San Bernardino National Forest, Mojave and Joshua Tree National Parks, and the Pacific Coast.  But also because there is a higher concentration of hunters (855,181) and anglers (3,147,396) in California than in many other states according to the research firm of Thomas Weisel Partners and the U.S. Department of Fish and Game.

Rancho Cucamonga's Bass Pro Shops store will be located on the east side of Victoria Gardens, adjacent to the I-15 Freeway.  Approximately 70 percent of the 180,000-square-foot facility will offer equipment and clothing for hiking, backpacking, hunting and fishing, wildlife viewing, camping, outdoor cooking, and more for the entire family.  A gift and nature center will provide a wide variety of outdoor-related items, from lamps and dishes to bird feeders and furniture.

The men's and women's clothing departments will feature well-known brands like Tommy Bahama, North Face, Columbia, Bob Timberlake, Woolrich, and more. Bass Pro Shops huge shoe department offers almost any shoe or boot imaginable for rugged outdoor pursuits, or for just being casual and comfortable.

About 22,000 square feet of the Rancho Cucamonga store will be dedicated to a boat showroom (and service center), which will include popular names like Tracker, Tahoe, and Nitro for virtually all kinds of on-the-water fun. Bass Pro Shops also carries a huge selection of golf gear and equipment including all the top sellers like Callaway, Ping, Nike, Golden Bear, Adams, Cobra, and more.

It is anticipated that Bass Pro Shops customers will want to spend a significant amount of time exploring and shopping in the Rancho Cucamonga store.  So, as an added convenience, a 10,000-square-foot restaurant will be incorporated into the design, and will serve up delicious entrées to hungry shoppers.

In addition to its retail offerings, Bass Pro Shops customers can also take advantage of many services and extras that are provided by the company.  Ongoing outdoor skills workshops, featuring topics like Dutch Oven Cooking, Archery 101, and Fly Tying for Beginners are typically provided for children, adults, and families, particularly if they are novices. 

Each Bass Pro Shops store is unique in its architectural design, and the Rancho Cucamonga store promises to be an eye-opener too.  In addition to its rustic interior and lodge-style exterior, the store will include features such as a casting pond for fishing demonstrations, an outdoor education area, a variety of eco-islands, a prominent fauna & flora element, and an indoor aquarium stocked with native fish.  From its generous wood appointments to its "Big Bear-style" landscaping to its attractive indoor/outdoor displays, the Rancho Cucamonga Bass Pro Shops store will give customers a genuine sense of the great outdoors.

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